Ep. 139 – History of the Religious Right Part 2: The Christian Nation, America in the 50s

There is a reason why American conservatives and Christian conservatives look back to the 1950s as the golden age of America. The 1950s were the closest thing America has ever been to being a Christian nation by the standards most modern religious conservatives offer. In the 1950s the forces of anti-communism and pro-Americanism easily merged with a “God Bless America” message to help establish the religious right in American politics.

This episode looks at the rise of Billy Graham and a Christian America that took shape after World War II. This was conveniently correlated to a rising opposition to Soviet Union communism and the atheist principles that supported this ideology. The polarization of the Cold War, McCarthyism, and other concepts all worked to support the idea of a Christian America.

The question, “Is America a Christian nation” had not really been asked before this time. In the 1950s, the question was asked and the answer from Christian conservatives in America was a definitive yes.

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JB Shreve has been the host of the End of History podcast since 2012. He has degrees in International Relations, Middle East Studies and International Business. His books include the Intelligence Brief Series. Regular posts and updates from JB Shreve are available at www.theendofhistory.net Find JB on Google+